2007/8 Season Preview: It’s been a couple of seasons since the P word was mentioned in Santa Cruz, but a fine finish to the last campaign aided by an exciting new young manager and some quality signings have changed everything. Officially nothing is expected and no pressure has been placed on Jose Luis Oltra to lead the side back to the promised land. But after seasons of struggle and battles with relegation it’s clear the sights have been set high.

There will be eight new faces for fans to cheer this season and they all bring something to the side. Importantly they are all seasoned pros well conditioned to life in the second tier of Spanish football. Last season saw a reworking of the defence which on the whole performed well. Centre-backs Culebras and Sicilia grew into the job and they were well backed up by full-backs Marc Betran and Clavero. This has been bolstered by the eye-catching signing of Juanma from Deportivo La Coruna. The thirty year old was strongly linked with a move to Reading and he has already indicated his desire to lead Tenerife back to former glories. He is a strong Ox of a player. It will be interesting to see if Oltra plays all three away from home.

The one disappointment for fans is the loss of goalkeeper Bernardo. He was only ever on loan and CDT were unable to agree a fee for him. So Juan Pablo, or Juanpa gets the jersey. He has La Liga experience from his time at Alaves and Numancia. Tenerife finished last season with two of the hottest talents in the second division: Ayose and Iriome. Both players attracted scouts to the Heliodoro and Iriome played in the under twenty World Cup in Canada. The successful loan signing of Manuel Martinez has been turned into a permanent deal and he should be given the captain’s armband. Martinez is a natural leader and the heartbeat of the side. To get him for nothing is a genuine coup.

He will be partnered in central midfield by Sylvain N’Diaye who arrives from Levante. He has a wealth of international experience and has played at the highest level with Marseille. He should be a good foil for Martinez and will be the playmaker. Antonio Longas will provide the competition. He came on a bundle last season at Real Zaragoza and has impressed in pre-season. Lleida’s Santos will be the cover, but with Oscar Perez, Ricardo and Homiga also in the running, Oltra has a host of options. This squad of midfield players is the best in the league, but they do have a red mist mentality at times. CDT are traditionally a collector of cards and this will need to change if they are to have the discipline for a promotion campaign.

Tenerife might have the best midfield, but in recent years they have had the worst offence. They have tried more men than Jodie Marsh and still cannot find a goalscorer. Last year’s attempts were woeful. Tomaz Frankowski was an expensive flop, while the less said about Raul Sanchez the better. ‘El Burro’ has somehow been shipped out to Alaves and from this moment on all rubbish strikers will be nicknames ‘Sanchez’.

Local lad Angel did well enough but he’s been shipped down a level on loan. It will do him the world of good, but Cristo stays. I like Cristo as a person, but he needs to produce on the field this season. Being the fans darling only gets you so far and I´m sure Oltra will be keeping a close eye on him. He is often injured, as he is right now, and rarely puts in a full ninety minutes. He is great as an impact player and he might have to settle for the bench again. The new boys are risks. Mikel Arruabarrena hardly set the world on fire at Xerez last season, but he is a handful and should get plenty of chances. Almeria born Nino (left) is a different sort of gamble. He struggled in La Liga with Levante last season notching just once, but was prolific previously at Elche. Ironically his time at Elche was with the aforementioned Frankowski! He should find Tenerife just to his liking with the width CDT play with. But the player who could outshine them is Ruben Rosquete. Just like Iriome he is from Icod, there must be something in the water, and has trod a similar path to the first team. He has really caught the eye in the pre-season and the fans have taken to him. He celebrated his eighteenth birthday this week and could be the X factor that makes all the difference.

It’s a tough league and the relegated sides will be fancied to bounce straight back, but I´m not so sure. Last season the dropped sides struggled and that might be repeated. Celta Vigo look the strongest, while Real Sociedad have had to sell their seven best players. It will be interesting to see how Chris Coleman fits in. Cadiz, who travel to Santa Cruz next weekend, have strengthened while Albacete and Numancia have made big changes and could go close. The league has one Englishman, Gifton Noel-Williams who is at Elche and as for Las Palmas? They look nailed on for another season of struggle! Roll on Bonfire Night!

2007/8 Fixtures: click here to see a full fixture list for the season>> All scores and links to see the goals will be posted here.

Links..... Armada Sur website The Armada Sur is the home of fans of all nationalities based in the south of Tenerife. Visit their website for all the latest fan club news, ticket details, planned trips to home & away matches, and CDT merchandise. Visit website>> CD Tenerife official website Check out the club website to find out more about fixtures, team news, and what's happening at the club. Visit website>> 2006/7 Results and Goals See what happened with the Blanquiazules last season to help them finish 7th in division 1. Click here for more>>

Archive..... The Spanish press have picked up on the fact that we are broadcasting from the Heliodoro stadium in Santa Cruz, and national sport paper 'La Marca' ran an aticle on Oasis Fm and an interview with Roscoe. Click here to see the article>> Thanks from all at Oasis Fm to the Armada Sur for displaying this banner at the CD Tenerife Heliodoro stadium, and telling the world what Roscoe is really all about.......